Lutfia Rabbani Foundation - Mahmoud S. Rabbani Fellowship

Mahmoud S. Rabbani Fellowship

You will receive up to 15,000 EUR for one academic year to complete a Master’s or PhD programme. You can use the money to cover tuition fees, which will be paid directly to your university, towards your living costs, which will be paid in four instalments spread throughout the year, or split it between both. In addition to the funding, you will be assigned a mentor (a personal adviser for academic and career matters) and gain access to the foundation’s network. The scholarship is awarded by the Lutfia Rabbani Foundation in The Hague, which aims to foster closer ties between the Arab world and Europe. You may reapply for further years, although a second year is not guaranteed.

Who can apply

• Where you study: If you are an Arab national, you are studying at a university in the Netherlands. If you are Dutch, you are studying at a university in the Arab world.
• Nationality: You are a national of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates or Yemen, or you are a Dutch national.
• Level: You are starting a Master’s degree or a PhD.
• Admission: You have received a certificate of admission from your university. Conditional admission is sufficient. If you are due to complete your Bachelor’s degree this year, an official confirmation from your university will suffice for the time being.
• Field of study: Open to all disciplines.
• Language: You have a good command of English or the language in which your degree programme is taught. A separate language test is not required.
• Financial need: You’ll have a better chance if you can prove that you need the support.
• Note: If you have been admitted to Leiden University, please apply for the Foundation’s separate Leiden scholarship instead of this one.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the Foundation’s portal. The application period begins on 1 January and ends on 31 March at 23:59 CET. You will receive a response by the beginning of May at the latest.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is very narrowly defined. You must hold one of the listed nationalities and commute between the Arab world and the Netherlands, meaning that the pool of eligible applicants is far smaller than for open scholarships. The foundation assesses your motivation to build Euro-Arab relations alongside your academic results and financial need, so a clear, convincing motivation is more important than a perfect academic record. If you fit the profile and can demonstrate a genuine commitment to this mission, your prospects are good.